Forestry Act, 1991 (Papua New Guinea)

The Forestry Act of Papua New Guinea (PNG) governs the conservation, development and management of the country's forest resources. The Act establishes the PNG Forest Authority which shall be the main government agency for the management, development and protection of the country's forest resources. The Act requires the preparation of forest plans in the national and provincial levels to provide a roadmap on how the government will manage and utilize the forest resources. It contains provisions governing forest protection acquisition and resource allocation. The Act provides for the execution of Forest Management Agreements between customary landowners and the government in order to equitably allocate forest rights and responsibility. Cutting rights may be transferred by landholders to the PNG Forest Authority in consideration of forest royalties. Such rights may further be transferred by the Forest Authority to private third parties. The Act further provides for marketing by timber permit holders as well as the establishment of a forest revenue system.